Self-loading cart.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

Z. WHITTEMDRE.

SELF LOADING CART.

AIPLIOATION FILED H0115. 1905.

2 sums-sum" 1.

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[NI/ENTQR W TNliSSliS:

PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

Z. WHITTEMORE.

SELF LOADING CART.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ih lllllllL UNITED- STATES ZENAS WHITTEMORE, or MORTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LOADING ("LQFi'lZ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I ,'ZnNAs WHITTEMORE, of Morton, county of Delaware, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Self-Loading Devices for Carts, &c., of which the following is a specification.

A part of my improvements relates to the collecting device by which the material to be loaded is collected and conveyed to the cart. I employ a pivoted collecting device which by means of suitably placed stops is caused to assume the proper position for collecting the material, and when elevated, to rock into proper position to retain the contents and finally to discharge them into the cart.

My invention also embraces improvements in the means for controlling the collecting device while it is operating to take up the material, so that, the proper pressure or tension may be obtained. This is particularly of i1nportance when the collecting device is a scoop used for digging, as in grading operations.

My invention also embraces other improvements which are fully set forth hereafter.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved self loading device, with part of the pan broken away to expose the clutch'mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elvation, the axle shaft being shown in section on the line AA of Fig. 1 Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views of one form of the devices for retarding the descent of the collecting devices; Fig. 5 is a perspective viewshowing another form of the devices for automatically releasing the clutch; and Fig. 6. is a detail plan view showing a method of connecting the attachment with a cart.

While I have shown the self loading device carried by a separate wheeled truck adapted to be detachably connected with a cart, they may, if desired, be fixedly connected with the cart and form a part thereof. It is to be'understood therefore. that when the term wheeled frame is used in the claims, it refers, unless otherwise limited, either to the cart or vehicle carrying the receptacle or .to the separate wheeled truck. I prefer, however, to arrange all of the self-loading devices on a separate and independent wheeled frame or truck, which may be detached from the cart, when the. latter is filled, and attached to [an empty cart,while the previously filled a is the axle of the attachment to which the wheels I) b are secured.

a a is a truck frame supported at one end by the shaft a and at its lower end by a small wheel 0 mounted on ashaft a in the lower ends of the arms of the truck-frame.

.d is the collecting device, which while here shown as a scoop or pan, may be of any suit-' able construction, according to the particular use to which the apparatus is applied.

The pan or collecting device is carried by arms e e on a rock shaft 6 which is journaled in bearings e on upward extension a a of the arms of the truck frame.

f is a cam on the rock-shaft cconnected by a chain or cable f with the loose member g of a clutch on the axle shaft a. The other member 9 of this clutch is keyed to the shaft, and when it is moved into engagement with the'member g the chain f will be wound upon the drum of the member 9, thus rocking the shaft 6 and elevating the pan or scoop d, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 into position to discharge its contents into the cart. i

The extensions a a of the truck-frame are shown provided with atransverse inclined guide a to direct the discharged contents of the cross bar a and connected by a link i with a bell crank lever i pivoted on the truckframe. The other end of the bell crank lever is connected by a link '8 with a bell crank operating lever j pivoted on the truck frame. The operating lever may be manipulated directly or by a chain or rope 3" from the drivers seat.

To release the clutch automatically after the pan has been elevated and has discharged its contents I employ the chain p connected with the rock-shaft e and arirnp of the clutch shifting lever W. The length of this chain is such that when'the arms e e and pan have reached their highest position it will be wound u on the shaft 6 to an extent sufficient to e placed under enough tension to rock the lever '5 through the arm 1) and operate the yoke '11 to release the clutch.

,Another form of clutch releasing mechanism is shown in Fig. 6. Here the shaft .e car ries a cam 1" acting on a lever r pivoted to a bracket a on one of the truck frame members a and connected by a link 1* with the ver 1" through the link 1' and release the clutch.

As shown the collecting device d is a scoop and to render it effective for this purpose its front edge must be depressed at an angle to the surface and locked in that position while it is operating. For this purpose the pan is pivoted at its ends in the arms e and is pro vided on the ends with two stop lugs m m the stops m beng adjacent to and slightly in the rear of the lower front edge, and the stops 1% adjacent to"the inner edge above the arms (2 6 when the pan is .lowered. W'hen in this .position the stops m m are in contact with the arms e, e, which are preferably provided with leaf springs e at the point of Contact to prevent jarring. pan is drawn forward these stops m m will 10l(l the pan with its front edge depressed in the ground.

When the arms 6 e are. raised the weight of the pan will cause it to rock on its pivots cld, until the stop m strikes the arms 6 e, as ihown in the lowest position in dotted lines in To maintain the pan rigidly in this position until it has been fully elevated andhas discharged its contents, I employ means for automatically locking the pan to the arm during the latter part of its elevation. As shown these means consist of a dog m pivoted on the lower end of. one arm 6, and an addi tional stop lug m on the pan adjacent to the lower front edge. The dog m is connected by av rod m with the truck frame below the shaft e, and as thearms e e are elevated this rod m acts on the dog m to move itinto engagement with the lug m and thus to lock the pan, as shown in dotted lines in the highest position in Fig. 2. I have shown this dog m and lug m at one end of the pan only, but one may be at each end if desired.

When the pan is lowered the operations are reversed, the dog m f rst releases the-lug m and when the pan reaches the ground it is thrown back into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 with the lugs m 'm in contact with the arms e e.

To force the front edge of the pan-into the earth when in its lowered position, I employ a chain n connectingthe pan arms (as through the cross bar e with a friction-clutch on the axle shaft 0... As shown this friction clutch consists of a loose member 0 and the clutch 65 friction may be imposed on the clutch mem- As the front edge of the 1 beer 0 to cause the pan to cut into the earth I without excessive resistance. 1

The springs e c act as buffers to pre'vent excessive jarring not only by contact with l the lugs wfi-m when the pan is lowered, but also by contact withthe top of the truck frame when the pan is elevated. v

To prevent the'pan descending with an excessive jar I preferto employ a suitable check or retarding device. As shown in Figs. 14 this check consists of a split yoke and held closed by a spring 7L2. The yoke is carried by the cross bar a of the truckframe. When the pan is at its highest point this cam It occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, out of contact with the yoke members, but as the pan descends and the shaft rocks, the cam acts upon the yoke members and separates them against the tension of the spring If, as shown in Fig. 4, and the descent of the pan will be retarded by the friction imposed by the yoke members. This friction m'ay be regulated by adjusting the tension of the spring h by a thumb screw It.

The pan elevating mechanism which has a rocking motion about the shaft e as an axis. In some cases, depending on the use to which the pan or collecting device is put, it is desirable also to impart a reciprocating movement, '11. to shift the position an arc. In such cases, instead of the partic ular mechanism here shown for elevating or rocking the pan, the elevating devices shown in my Letters Patent 7 93,700, dated July 4th, 1905, may be employed.

When it is desired to operate the cart without loading or operating the scoop (Z, the friction clutch 0 may bethrown' out ofconnection by locking the lever with the clutch member 9 out of frictional contact with the clutch member 0. For this-purpose I have shown a pivoted latch s on the lever j, adapted to engage a lug s on the truck frame and operated by a small bell crank lever 8 on the irregularities in the surface of the ground.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a self-loading device, the combination'of rocking arms, a'collecting'device pivh 72- embracing a cam lz on the-rock shaft 6 dom of movement in the truck frame to suit been described will impart to the pan merely of the axis, as well as to rock the pan through IOO lever 1 connected with the latch by a link 8 otally connected with said rocking arms, stops to limit the rocking of said collecting device on its pivotal connection with said arms, and means to rock said arms to raise and lower the collecting device carried thereby.

2. In a self-loading device, the combination of rocking arms, a collecting device pivotally connected with said rocking arms,

to stops to limit the rocking of said collecting device on its pivotal connection with said arms, means to rock said arms to raise and lower the collecting device carried thereby, and an automatic locking device to lock said is collecting device against movement on its pivotal connection when it is elevated.

3. In a self-loading device, the combination of rocking arms, a collecting device pivotally connected with said rocking arms,

stops to limit the rocking of said collecting device on its pivotal connection with said arms, means to rock said arms to raise and lower the collecting device carried thereby, and an automatic locking device'to lock said collecting device against movement on its pivotal connection when it is elevated and to unlock it when it is lowered.

4. In a self-loading device, the combination of rocking arms, a collecting device pivotally connected with said rocking arms, stops to limit the rocking of said collecting device on its pivotal connection with said arms, means to rock said arms to raise and lower the collecting device carried thereby,

3 5 a locking device carried by said arms and adapted to engage the collecting device and lock it against movement on its pivots, and means controlled by the movement of the arms to actuate said locking devicewhen the 40 arms are elevated.

5. In a self-loadingdevice, the combination of rocking arms, a collecting device pivotally connected with said rocking arms,

stops to limit the rocking of said collecting device on its pivotal connection with said arms, means to rock said arms to raise and lower the collecting device carried thereby, a pivoted dog m carried by a rocking arm, a lug m carried by the collecting device and \adapted to be acted upon by the dog, and a rod m connecting the dog with a support eccentric to the axis of, the rocking arms whereby the rocking. of said arms will cause said rod to actuate the dog and engage the 6. In a self-loading device, the combina tion of a rocking frame, a collecting device pivotally connected with said rocking frame, and a stop to limit the movement of said col- 6o lecting device on its pivots while it is being lifted by the rocking frame. 4

7. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried thereby, a collecting device pivotally connected with said rocking frame, and

means connected with the vehicle for pulling the collecting device forward with a yielding tension.

8. Ina self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rocking frame, and a yielding connection between said rocking frame and the axle of the wheeled vehicle.

9. In a self-loading device, the combination of a Wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried thereby, a, collecting device carried by said rocking frame, a friction clutch on the axle of-the wheeled frame, and a connection between said friction clutch and rocking frame.

10. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rocking frame, )ower transmitting devices between the rocl zing frame and the axle of the vehicle embracing a clutch, a friction clutch on said axle and a connection be- 11. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rocking frame, a friction clutch on the axle of thewheeled vehicle, a flexible connection between the rocking frame and loose member of the friction clutch, and means to adjust the tension of the other member of said friction clutch.

12. ,In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rocking frame, a loose clutch member 9' on the axle of the wheeled vehicle, a loose friction clutch member 0 also on the axle of the wheeled vehicle, a flexible connection between the clutch member 0 and the rocking frame, and a clutch member 9 arranged to act in conjunction with either clutch member g or 0.

13. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a'rockin'g frame carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rocking frame, a loose clutch member g on the axle of the wheeled vehicle, a loose friction clutch member 0 also on the axle of the wheeled vehicle, a flexible connection between the clutch member 0 and the rocking frame, a clutch member 9 arranged to act in conjunction with either clutch member 9 or 0, and means to adjust the tension of said glutch member g on'the friction clutch mema 14. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rock shaft carried thereby, power transmitting connections between the rock shaft. and the axle of the vehicle, embracing a clutch, manually controlled devices for operating said clutch at will, arms carried by the rock shaft, a col- 1 lecting device carried by said arms, and.

clutch actuating devices for operating said clutch, controlled by the rock shaft.

15. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rocking frame carried by the vehicle, a collecting device pivotally supported by said rocking frame, sto s to limit the forward movement of the col ecting device on its pivots, and a yielding connection between the rocking frame and the axle of the Wheeled vehicle.

16. In a selfloading.device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rock shaft carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rock shaft, power transmitting connections between the rock shaft and the axle of the vehicle, embracing a clutch, and a retarding device acting on the rock shaft to retard its rotation when the collecting device is lowered.

17. In a self-loading device, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a rock shaft carried thereby, a collecting device carried by said rock shaft,power transmitting connections between the rock shaft and the axle of the Vehicle embracing a clutch, a cam on the rock shaft, and a friction device acting on said cam to retard the rotation of the rock shaft when the collecting device is lowered.

18. In a self loading device, the combination of rocking arms, a collecting device priotally connected with said arms, and means to rock said arms and raiseand lower the collecting device carried thereby.

In testimony ofwhich invention, I hereunto set my hand.

' ZENAS WHITTEMORE. Witnesses:

GEO. M. PALM, J. F. BEATTY. 

